[Verna]

When first diag. I was going to have mastectomy on both sides ( I just didn't want to deal with b/c in the other breast if it recurred there), my surgeon recommed I didn't and I'm very glad I didn't. Being stage IV, which I am, after my mastectomy and treatments I started going to MD Anderson and seeing an onc. there, as well as seeing my onc. local. The first thing she said to me was why did I have a mastectomy being stage IV, and that blew my mind. (I mentioned that to my surgeon and she said it was for the best because of the multiple tumors I had) so I told her because I needed one? She had said since I was stage IV it wasn't necessary. That was the first time I had ever had someone tell me that. Appearently the treatments will get to all the mets in your body including the breast.

Hope I made sense, I still feel I have chemo brain.

Good luck.